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Pfizer's Wyeth to Fork Over $784.6 Million in Medicaid Rebate Settlement

Published: Feb 16, 2016

Wyeth Reaches Agreement In Principle To Resolve Medicaid Drug Rebate Claims For 2001-2006 Period For Protonix

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) reported today that its Wyeth subsidiary has reached an agreement in principle to resolve claims alleging that Wyeth’s practices relating to the calculation of Medicaid rebates for its drug Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) between 2001 and 2006, several years before Pfizer acquired Wyeth in 2009, violated the Federal Civil False Claims Act and other laws. When finalized, the agreement in principle is expected to fully resolve cases pending in Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts before the Honorable Douglas P. Woodlock.

Under the agreement in principle, Wyeth will make a payment of $784.6 million to resolve these claims. The agreement in principle does not include an admission of liability by Wyeth. The resolution is subject to the negotiation of final settlement agreements and court approval.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle to resolve these cases, which involve historic conduct that occurred at least 10 years ago, before Pfizer acquired Wyeth,” said Doug Lankler, Executive Vice President and General Counsel. “The resolution of these cases reflects a desire by the Company to put these cases behind us and to focus on the needs of patients.”

As a result of the agreement in principle, Pfizer is reissuing its financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015, originally released on February 2, 2016, to reflect this $784.6 million charge recorded in Other (income)/deductions––net in the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and notes thereto. The Company’s Non-GAAP adjusted financial information for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015, which was issued on February 2, 2016, was not affected by the charge.

Please find Pfizer’s press release and accompanying unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and notes thereto at the following hyperlink:

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About Pfizer

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. For more information, please visit us at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this press release and the attachment is as of February 16, 2016. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the attachment as a result of new information or future events or developments.

This press release and the attachment contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.Forward-looking statements include those about the agreement in principle resolving the claims and the financial impact of the proposed settlement.The agreement in principle is subject to the negotiation of definitive documentation, and we may fail to agree on definitive documentation with the U.S. Department of Justice.In that event, or if negotiating definitive documents takes longer than expected, the resolution of this litigation may be materially different from that contemplated in this press release and the attachment.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results”, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and are available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.